The Keeper of Lost Causes

Department Q, Book 1

By: Jussi Adler-Olsen

Narrated by: Erik Davies

Length: 15 hrs and 36 mins

Publisher's summary

Get to know the detective in charge of Copenhagen's coldest cases in the first electrifying Department Q mystery from New York Times best-selling author Jussi Adler-Olsen.

Carl Mørck used to be one of Denmark’s best homicide detectives. Then a hail of bullets destroyed the lives of two fellow cops, and Carl - who didn’t draw his weapon - blames himself. So a promotion is the last thing he expects. But Department Q is a department of one, and Carl’s got only a stack of cold cases for company. His colleagues snicker, but Carl may have the last laugh, because one file keeps nagging at him: A liberal politician vanished five years earlier and is presumed dead. But she isn’t dead...yet.

Darkly humorous, propulsive, and atmospheric, The Keeper of Lost Causes introduces American listeners to the mega-bestselling series fast becoming an international sensation.

©2011 Jussi Adler-Olsen (P)2011 Penguin

Don't Expect Jo Nesbo

What did you like best about The Keeper of Lost Causes? What did you like least?

Initially, I was engaged in the dual storylines that toggled between 2002 and 2007. I thought that was well down and effective.

Unfortunately, I found much to dislike about this book. The characters were not well developed and seemed derivative of other, better Scandanavian police novels. Assad is the only truly fresh character in the book. Also, key elements of the plot seemed implausible. Specifically, a member of the Danish Parliament goes missing in 2002 and,at that time, the police conduct a completely inadequate investigation. Seriously, a well-known elected official goes missing and no one digs below the surface to answer questions?

The book also suffers from the narrator's attempt at a Danish accent. This was very off-putting and I almost didn't continue with the book. It would be much better to just speak naturally and focus on adjusting his voice for the characters.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

Lose the Danish accent. Make Carl Morck more interesting.

Would you be willing to try another one of Erik Davies’s performances?

Possibly with a different narrator.

Was The Keeper of Lost Causes worth the listening time?

I don't believe so.

Happy to have found this series.

If you could sum up The Keeper of Lost Causes in three words, what would they be?

A good listen.

Any additional comments?

I purchased this book partly because a previous reviewer call it "a total ripoff of the The girl with the dragon tattoo." Or somthing like that. I may be paraphrasing. I think they had meant it as a insult. but I figured what the heck,I loved that book. if this one is half as good I'd be stoked.
Well I was stoked. but really the only similarities it shares with Stieg Larsson's book(s) is that they both are good mysteries and exciting thrillers set in Scandinavian countries.
I should also say I did find the narration with accents was a little odd,especially in the beginning. but it definetly wasn't a deal breaker.

Department Q Rocks!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, Great Characters! Great story line! Set in Denmark which is new. Can you remember the last time Denmark was mentioned in a novel or movie......
Creepy Twisted plot, really just a great book you need to jump into and enjoy

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

at times yes, what it did a great job at is keeping you in flux on who was going to get caught.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Almost did. Listened with my wife on a road trip. we actually drove past our hotel so we could listen a bit longer. Yup, we're dorks like that.

Addicting

This book held my rapt attention and I listened at every possible moment until it ended. Great fun. Buy it

I love this writer and I don't like to complain...

What disappointed you about The Keeper of Lost Causes?

But! I found the narrators varied accents incredibly annoying. Sorry I know he tried hard but the guy who performed THE MARCO EFFECT was so fantastic I went backwards to start over after listening to the Marco Effect. I would never have finished this book except that I want to listen to the entire series. Hoping the next narrators are better.

What didn’t you like about Erik Davies’s performance?

he was fine until he tried to disguise his voice with a weird accent. Very annoying.

Any additional comments?

looking forward to the next in the series. My first was the Marco Effect. Loved that book now I'm working my way through from the beginning

You begin to feel the pain.

If you could sum up The Keeper of Lost Causes in three words, what would they be?

Way to real

What did you like best about this story?

The story line is just enough different to seperate it from other books of the same nature

What does Erik Davies bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The book would be just as good of a read. Davies does help with the forgien names. The plot can be confusing to follow with out a consistant voice for each charater.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The reality of what would be apt to happen after the ending.

Any additional comments?

A good book but if you are looking for a "feel good" ending instead of reality one might struggle with this story.

Loved It

If you could sum up The Keeper of Lost Causes in three words, what would they be?

Kept me coming back for more, the suspense was good and not predictable.

Any additional comments?

One of the books I would say was worth the read and I will look for another by this author.

true to form detective work

What did you love best about The Keeper of Lost Causes?

main characters: both were stellar; more from both Carl and Assad would be great

What did you like best about this story?

complex interchange among characters

What about Erik Davies’s performance did you like?

he had wonderful voice, ancents

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

at the end, when it seems Mareda might have regained her life.

Loved it

Highly recommend keeper of lost causes. Had me hooked from the very start. Thoroughly enjoyed the characters and the narration. Didn't want the book to end but couldn't stop either!

Gripping. Hard to put down

Kol and Assad were great.characters. Good plot. Hard to wait until my next bike ride